The dream haunted Eleana long after she awoke.
She sat by her window, staring at the night sky, her heart still racing. The vision had felt so real—so much more than just a dream. The voice, the golden field, the figure reaching out to her… It was as if something buried deep inside her was trying to surface.
But why?
Her entire life had been planned out for her. The marriage was set, and tomorrow, she would become Victor's wife. That was what her parents wanted, what Victor wanted.
So why did it feel like her soul was rejecting it?
She pressed a hand to her chest, her fingers trembling.
Something wasn't right.
Leon's Desperate Race
The wind roared around Leon as he shot through the sky like a falling star, his wings burning with celestial energy. Every second that passed brought him closer to Eleana—but was it fast enough?
His body ached from breaking free of the celestial chains, but he didn't care. He had lost too much already. He wouldn't lose her.
The elders had turned their backs on him. The celestial laws forbade interference in mortal affairs. But Leon knew this wasn't just about a mortal girl—Eleana was different.
And he was beginning to realize why.
There was something inside her, something even Victor didn't seem to fully understand. A power long forgotten.
And that terrified him.
Because if Victor had been planning this all along, it wasn't just about stealing Eleana away from him.
It was about awakening something in her. Something that should have never been found.
Leon's jaw clenched as he pushed forward, faster than he ever had before.
He had to reach her before Victor did.
Victor's Game of Control
Victor sat alone in his chamber, sipping his wine, watching the candle flames dance. His victory was nearly complete.
Eleana was his.
Leon was gone.
And soon, everything he had worked for would fall into place.
But that feeling from earlier still gnawed at him. The flicker of light in the hall. The strange unease creeping into his bones. He wasn't a fool—he knew when something was wrong.
And something was wrong.
Victor ran a hand along the golden cuff on his wrist, his grip tightening. He had played this game carefully, manipulating Eleana's emotions, weaving illusions to make her trust him.
But now… she was slipping.
He could feel it.
Her soul was resisting.
Tomorrow, he would have her completely. The bond between them would be sealed in a way even Leon couldn't break.
But still… something about Eleana was changing.
And he didn't like things he couldn't control.
Eleana's Unraveling
Eleana paced her room, the unease in her chest only growing stronger.
She felt trapped.
The walls of the grand estate seemed to close in on her, and the elegant silk gown she wore felt too tight, too restricting. The weight of her parents' expectations, the looming presence of Victor—it was suffocating.
She needed air.
Throwing on a shawl, she slipped out onto the balcony, inhaling the cool night breeze. The city below was quiet, the lights of the lanterns flickering like tiny stars.
She closed her eyes, exhaling shakily.
"Eleana..."
Her heart stopped.
She heard it.
That same voice from her dream.
Her eyes snapped open, scanning the darkness.
Nothing.
Just the wind.
But deep inside, she knew… something was coming.
And it was coming for her.
The Sky Burns
Far above, cutting through the clouds like a falling star, Leon arrived.
His wings blazed as he dove toward the estate, his heart hammering in his chest.
He wasn't too late.
But just as he neared the grand balcony, ready to reach for Eleana—
A force slammed into him.
Pain exploded through his body as he was thrown back, crashing into the trees below.
Dazed, he stumbled to his feet, his vision blurring.
And then he saw him.
Victor.
Standing at the edge of the balcony, watching him with a slow, knowing smile.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Victor said smoothly, his golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Leon wiped the blood from his lip, his wings flaring behind him. "Let her go."
Victor chuckled. "Oh, Leon. You still don't get it, do you?" He tilted his head, stepping back toward Eleana, who stood frozen in place, her wide eyes flickering with uncertainty.
"She's already mine."
Leon's hands clenched into fists. No. He wasn't going to let Victor take her.
Not now. Not ever.
The battle for Eleana had truly begun.
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